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Indian families face tougher vetting under new US green card rules

Indian families face tougher vetting under new US green card rules

India Today05-08-2025
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued fresh policy guidance aimed at strengthening its screening of family-based immigrant visa petitions, a move that will affect many applicants from India, one of the largest sources of family-sponsored green card applications.The updated policy, now part of the USCIS Policy Manual, clarifies how the agency will assess whether family-based petitions-including those involving spouses, children, parents, or siblings — are genuine, properly documented, and legally valid.advertisementThe agency is drawing a clear line between legitimate family reunification and what it calls "fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious" petitions. Such cases, it says, 'erode confidence in family-based pathways to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and undermine family unity in the United States.'
The guidance, effective immediately, lays out several key updates that will affect current and future petitions, including those already in the pipeline. These include stricter interview protocols, clearer eligibility criteria, and closer scrutiny of cases where multiple or related petitions are filed together.USCIS says the goal is to boost its 'capacity to vet qualifying marriages and family relationships to ensure they are genuine, verifiable, and compliant with all applicable laws.'Indian nationals are likely to feel the impact. Many wait years — even decades — in backlogs, particularly under family preference categories. This move could mean longer processing times or additional documentation requirements for some.AMONG THE NOTABLE CHANGES:Clarified rules for when interviews will be required for family-based immigrant visa petitions.New explanations of how the agency adjudicates petitions filed alongside others, including related or duplicate submissions.Tighter oversight on cases filed from abroad by US citizens, including military personnel and government employees stationed overseas.Reinforced authority to issue a Notice to Appear (NTA) in immigration court if the petition beneficiary is found to be removable, emphasising that an approved family petition does not shield someone from deportation.'We are committed to keeping Americans safe by detecting aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States,' the agency stated.The update also outlines when USCIS may reroute a case to the National Visa Centre if an applicant is no longer eligible to adjust status within the US.- EndsTrending Reel
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